Abstract: An artist's brush washing apparatus providing multiple washings of an artist's brush utilizing fresh solvent and facilities for holding contaminated solvent. A top unit includes a washing basin which receives fresh solvent from a solvent reservoir assembly. The top unit overlies a holding pan and a solvent flushing assembly provides for the control and removal of contaminated solvent from the washing basin into the pan and the introduction of fresh solvent into the washing basin from the solvent reservoir assembly.

Abstract: A fluid tight container 11 defines a conical internal cavity 35, and has an upper feed pipe 12 and a lower outlet opening 14. A cylindrical stirrer 15 is wholly enclosed in the cavity, and is driven in a circular oscillating manner by an external eccentric mechanism coupled to an extension of the stirrer. This arrangement makes it possible to mix products of high viscosity and gas without excessive heating and leakage, by virtue of the exclusive use of static fluid-tightness.

Abstract: A circuit board resists shear stress caused by the unequal thermal coefficients of expansion of a mounted electronic component and a circuit board upon which it is mounted. The circuit board is defined by a support layer, a shear stress-relieving layer and a conductive layer. The shear stress-relieving layer comprises a layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a compressive modulus of less than 50,000 pounds per square inch.

Abstract: A rust, corrosion, and scale removing composition is provided. It comprises an additive concentrate and water. The additive concentrate preferably consists of, on a parts by weight basis, 1.5 to 5 parts glycolic acid, 0.2 to 1 parts tetrasodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, 2 to 6 parts citric acid, and 1 to 3 parts trisodium citrate dihydrate.

Abstract: A method for the production of a hydrolytically stable nylon membrane includes providing a nylon having at least about 0.9 moles of amino end groups per mole of nylon and preparing the nylon membrane therefrom. The membrane can be used in cartridges for use in filtration applications as may be necessary in the food and beverage industry as well as for the production of pharmaceuticals and the manufacture of electronic components. The membrane is capable of withstanding autoclaving and hot water sanitization without molecular dissociation regardless of its pore size, or thickness of the membrane, or the nylon solids content of the dope or, the temperature at which the dope is made.

Abstract: A liquid delivery system for a chemical vapor deposition apparatus, and a method of using the same employs one or more ultrasonic atomizing nozzles to inject one or more liquid precursor solutions directly into a CVD reactor chamber. The liquid delivery system can be operated either in a continuous mode or in a pulsed mode. In the pulsed mode, measured pulses of the liquid precursor solution are injected by the one or more ultrasonic atomizing nozzles so that control of film deposition rates as fine as monolayers per pulse can be obtained. Use of the ultrasonic nozzles insures that the liquid will be vaporized in the reactor chamber so that uniform deposition of films on one or more substrates in the reactor chamber is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing waste from patient care, maintenance, and/or treatment includes an inflatable bladder member disposed to support at least a first portion of the body of the patient. A flexible basin member is fitted over the bladder and receives waste materials, and a filter sheet is disposed atop the basin member. The basin member is connected to a liquid/gas separator and a vacuum blower. A liquid waste pump is connected to the separator to transfer liquid waste to a holding jug. A vacuum wand provides both suction and rinsing liquid via an on-demand pumping supply configuration that enables the rinsing liquid supplied from a rinse jug to be heated. Liquid levels in the rinse liquid jug, the holding jug, and the separator's holding reservoir are sensed by capacitive level sensing devices which supply signals to a microprocessor which controls various functions of the apparatus. Special inflatable sacks are provided to assist turning the patient to facilitate cleansing of the patient.

Abstract: This invention relates to a protease inhibitor of the insect Manduca sexta, its purification, cloning of a DNA sequence encoding the inhibitor, modifications to change inhibitor specificity, transgenic plants carrying and expressing said DNA sequence and insect resistance conferred thereby on said transgenic plants.

Abstract: The current invention substantially removes particulate waste materials or debris from the floptical medium after laser etching. A low-temperature gas containing ice crystals is applied at a predetermined angle while the floptical medium is being rotated to improve the cleaning effect. The temperature of the disk is maintained above freezing to maintain the cleaning effect.

Abstract: A spark gap electrode assembly for lithotripters allows easy replacement of both electrode tips without requiring manual adjustment of the spacing between the tips. The electrode assembly uses a housing with a conductive cage extending from its distal end to support the grounded electrode. The cage holds the base of the grounded electrode so that the tip of the grounded electrode is located at a predetermined position relative to the distal end of the housing. The discharge electrode assembly is threaded through a passageway in the housing extending along a longitudinal axis. The discharge electrode assembly includes an elongated conductive body with a proximal end for connection to an external electrical power supply and a tip at its distal end. An insulative layer covers the discharge electrode between its tip and proximal end.

Abstract: A fish landing device comprising a generally conical landing device having a rigid frame with a flexible covering supported by the frame with an opening at each end of the covering to facilitate drawing the fish into the covering while the line is still attached and having a slot extending the entire length of the frame to allow drawing the line completely through the landing device, together with straps for securing the covering about the fish to immobilize the fish for safe removal of the hook.

Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth an improved integrated circuit in which circuit elements, adjacent to a fuse, are protected by barriers positioned adjacent the fuse. In the improved integrated circuit the barriers are non-frangible, high melting point structures buried in the passivating layer, covering a wiring layer containing a fuse, and are between the fuse and adjacent circuit elements in the wiring layer structures.Also taught is a method of protecting circuit elements adjacent a fuse comprising the steps of depositing an insulating layer on the surface of a semiconductor device having active regions therein, forming a plurality of fuses and circuit elements in said layer, coating said fuses and elements with a second insulating layer, patterning said second insulating layer to form grooves between each of said fuses and any adjacent fuse or circuit element, and depositing a high melting point and non-frangible material in said grooves.

Abstract: A shutter mechanism for collimating x-rays uses a frame to define an opening with two opposing interior edges. An elongated flexible band extends in sliding engagement about at least a portion of the periphery of the frame opening. A first shutter member made of an x-ray opaque material has a first end attached to the flexible band along the first interior edge of the frame. Similarly, a second shutter member made of an x-ray opaque material has a first end attached to the flexible band along the second interior edge of the frame. A drive means, such as a stepper motor, translates the flexible band relative to the frame to control the positions of the shutter members and the shutter aperture. In the preferred embodiment, the interior edges of the frame also include tracks that slidably engage the opposing edges of the shutter members for support.

Abstract: A check authorization system and process that provides an issuing company to control all aspects of the check authorization, including the issuing of transaction authorization, the transaction approval, and the bank reconciliation. Presigned drafts are carried by authorized personnel for use when away from one's domicile. When funds are required, an authorized person obtains a transaction authorization number form the issuing company via telephone for recordation upon the presigned draft. The location cashing the draft contacts the issuing company for a transaction approval code, which is recorded on the draft, before accepting and cashing the draft. Subsequently, the draft is presented to a bank for payment. The securing of or transaction authorization number requires the recordation of the area code and telephone number for tracking of the authorized person's location.

Abstract: Dicitrate cyclic diester (dicitrate) is a novel compound which is found in patients who do not exhibit symptoms or predisposition to idiopathic renal calculous disease. Dicitrate can be isolated and detected by novel chromatographic methods. Further, treating patients prophylactically and therapeutically with dicitrate cyclic diester can prevent or reduce the effects of calcification-related disease, including some types of kidney stones.

Abstract: A method of making a prosthetic heart valve having an occluder which is supported to pivot between open and closed positions in an annular valve body made of pyrocarbon or a pyrocarbon-coated substrate. The valve body contains diametrically opposed pivot supports formed on the interior surface thereof and is distended by subjecting it to diametrically opposed compressive forces of a nature which place extensive exterior regions of the valve body in compression while increasing the distance between the pivot supports. After the occluder is installed in the distended annular valve body, removal of the opposed compressive forces permits the valve body to return to an unstressed, generally circular configuration with the occluder operatively secured between the pivot supports. These forces are applied using flexible, inextensible cables or resilient pressure pads.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for etching a point on the surface of a magnetic medium to reduce the reflectivity of the point and for verifying that proper etching occurred. A light source provides a collimated incident beam of light. The incident beam is focused to a point on the medium and a portion of the beam is reflected. The reflected beam is separated from the incident beam and the intensity of the reflected beam is measured. The measured intensity is compared to a threshold value and verification is indicated if the measured intensity exceeds the threshold value.